{"id":46154,"date":"2022-09-12T08:10:23","date_gmt":"2022-09-12T12:10:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ehorses.com\/magazine\/?post_type=news&p=46154"},"modified":"2022-09-12T08:14:18","modified_gmt":"2022-09-12T12:14:18","slug":"is-dressage-heading-in-the-right-direction","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.ehorses.com\/magazine\/news\/is-dressage-heading-in-the-right-direction\/","title":{"rendered":"Expert opinion: Is dressage heading in the right direction?"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]When I watch dressage, I frequently notice riders leaning back and sitting quite behind the vertical, despite the fact that when I look at old pictures, the riders were sitting correctly, says Christopher Hector – an interviewer of Christoph Hess.<\/b><\/p>\n

Christoph Hess <\/b>comments that riders need to understand that they must move <\/span>with the horse<\/b> with their upper bodies, <\/span>not behind<\/b>. Many riders, in my opinion, believe that they have <\/span>greater influence<\/b> and opportunities to use their weight when they are <\/span>seated behind<\/b>. However, I agree with you that this is not the proper approach to go. You must follow the motion and give the horse <\/span>room<\/b> to <\/span>elevate its back<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Rising trot VS Sitting trot<\/b><\/h2>\n

The brightest eventing riders<\/strong>, in the opinion of Christoph, can educate<\/strong> many dressage riders how to sit<\/strong>. He observes dressage riders switching from a pure dressage seat to a light seat in the practice arena. He usually advocates<\/strong> moving from the light seat<\/strong> to the dressage position<\/strong> rather than the other way around when instructing. When Christoph first started, he believed<\/strong> that the dressage position<\/strong> was the most crucial<\/strong>, but the more he instructs, and he instructs pretty much every day \u2014 the more he realises<\/strong> that the riders must transition from a rising trot<\/strong> to a sitting dressage position<\/strong> and from a light seat in the canter to the dressage position. When the rider can switch<\/strong> between the two positions<\/strong> in the saddle and the cadence, elasticity, three-beat canter, and two-beat trot are observed, the rider will realise<\/strong> that their horse has received excellent schooling<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Christoph Hess suggests<\/strong> that<\/span> every rider should start<\/strong> their ride with a rising trot<\/strong> and a light seat<\/strong> in the canter. When they do this, they will experience something different as a rider. When considering biomechanics<\/strong>, the rider feels more like he\/she is riding together with the horse<\/strong> as opposed to sitting behind the vertical<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Stallion Competitions<\/b><\/h2>\n

When the stallion<\/strong> is being shown, the rider is pushing<\/strong> while leaning back<\/strong> in the saddle as the stallion moves in an extended trot<\/strong> on the diagonal. At the end of the day, this is the incorrect technique<\/strong> to ride and demonstrate<\/strong> stallions. I believe the breeders<\/strong> will understand that they cannot determine<\/strong> with certainty whether the stallion is appropriate<\/strong> for their mare in these circumstances<\/strong>. Stallion shows<\/strong> that present the stallions as competent<\/strong> riding horses, with long <\/strong>reins, giving<\/strong> both reins, re-taking<\/strong> the reins, and riding circles<\/strong>, are very much to my liking. Three-year-old<\/strong> horse has to be ridden as a very young horse in a very gentle<\/strong>, lovely, and horse-friendly<\/strong> way. Later, when the horse is four years old<\/strong>, you can initiate the sitting trot<\/strong> a little bit more, and when the horse is five years old<\/strong>, a little bit extra, so that the spectators and breeders can clearly distinguish<\/strong> stallions in various age classes. To me, it is crucial<\/strong> to make this clear<\/strong> to breeders, spectators, and riders, talks <\/span>Christoph Hess<\/strong> in the interview.<\/span><\/p>\n

Christoph <\/span>believes that the medium trot<\/strong> should always be ridden rising<\/strong> for young horses<\/strong> to better elongate<\/strong> the steps; when they are six years old<\/strong>, they can move to the extended trot<\/strong>. The most challenging<\/strong> movement, in his opinion, is sitting extended trot<\/strong>. Sitting in the piaffe<\/strong> is actually very simple,<\/strong> but sitting in the extended trot is very difficult<\/strong> for the rider because he needs to have very high pelvic stability<\/strong> and suppleness<\/strong> for it to work.<\/span><\/p>\n

Since stallion shows<\/strong> are not really moving in the correct way from the perspective of wellbeing<\/strong>, the government<\/strong> will eventually step in and say that stallion competitions are not permitted<\/strong>, shares Mr. Hess<\/strong> his concerns. We will have vets<\/strong> on hand to monitor everything and judge<\/strong> if it is good or bad. If the government<\/strong> will do that rather than the Federation<\/strong> of Horse People, I will be really upset<\/strong>. However, it is our duty as horse-people<\/strong> to put an end<\/strong> to improper riding, and this is improper riding<\/strong>, says Christoph.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

How to sit in an extended trot?<\/b><\/h2>\n

First and foremost, you need to feel comfortable<\/strong> in the saddle and have adequate balance<\/strong> and flexibility<\/strong> to sit in an extended trot. This is crucial<\/strong> because without balance and flexibility in the working trot, it is impossible<\/strong> to sit in the collected trot and, especially, in the medium<\/strong> and extended trots<\/strong>. Therefore, Christoph Hess adores lunging lessons<\/strong> because they allow the rider to begin to develop a sense<\/strong> of the movement with their eyes closed<\/strong>, which can be extremely difficult<\/strong> for some riders. Start with a rising trot<\/strong> and slowly move towards sitting trot.<\/strong> Begin with slightly shorter stirrups<\/strong>, gradually lengthen<\/strong> them to establish the balance<\/strong>. Next step is to remove the stirrups<\/strong> and let the rider find the balance<\/strong> again. Offer the rider a chance to rediscover<\/strong> his balance while using his hands<\/strong> on the front of the saddle<\/strong>. The rider needs to learn to swing<\/strong> from the pelvis<\/strong> into the movement of the horse, and the more adeptly<\/strong> they can do this, the more adeptly they can ride longer steps<\/strong>\u2014not from zero to extension, but step- by-step<\/strong>, advises Christoph to all riders.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Advice from Christoph Hess<\/b><\/h2>\n

The riders should talk<\/strong> more about themselves, not the horses<\/strong>, in my viewpoint, says Christoph<\/strong>. What can I do as a rider<\/strong> to continue improving<\/strong>? – the question every rider should ask from himself\/ herself. Christoph Hess doesn’t attempt to educate<\/strong> all the riders in the exact same manner<\/strong>; instead, he leaves it up to each individual rider to establish<\/strong> their own unique method<\/strong>. This is what he communicates<\/strong> to the riders.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Source: The Horse Magazine<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]When I watch dressage, I frequently notice riders leaning back and sitting quite behind the…","protected":false},"author":131,"featured_media":46159,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[161],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-46154","news","type-news","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-equestrianism"],"yoast_head":"\nExpert Opinion: Is dressage heading in the right direction? I ehorses magazine<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Rising vs Sitting trot, Stallion competitions, Sitting in the extended trot. 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